Dharma Drum Mountain Fellowship Singapore held a two-day basic meditation class on February 21, 2016, with 52 participants guided by several senior practitioners who had passed DDM’s meditation teachers training program. Starting at 9:30 a.m. the course began with an introduction to the structure of Chan practice and functions of meditation, including explanations on various meditation postures, how to experience relaxation, count the breath, do the Eight-form Moving Meditation, and practice walking meditation, as well as apply Chan teachings in daily life. Participants were all keen to learn and enthusiastic to interact with their senior instructors.

During the sharing session on the second day, many participants agreed that the course indeed helped them understand that Chan is not as mysterious and inaccessible as they had thought it to be. A Christian participant said that she had always been curious about “Chan,” and by joining this course she realized that Chan practice is actually a best way to understand oneself. She suggested Chan practice to be introduced to schools and civic clubs, because it can certainly increase students’ concentration level, and thus enhance their learning. She also expressed that she would encourage her Christian friends to join as well. Her sharing was definitely a positive feedback for our faith in Chan practice, which will keep us going in a more solid manner on our Dharma path. We hope Chan Buddhism can also become widespread in this country.